The elections reflected a suburb grappling with significant growth in recent decades as new and diverse residents moving to master-planned communities built on the west side of town. City officials estimate Pearland has 120,000 residents. It encompasses parts of three counties — Harris, Fort Bend and Brazoria — and covers 48 square miles.

Campaign rhetoric highlighted the challenges the city faces, including transportation, infrastructure, a landfill and city finances. Race and religion also became talking points, with two older, white, conservative men who had held office before facing two younger, minority newcomers.

This difference was exacerbated by a contentious campaign period during which a Pearland real estate agent distributed a letter conveying "that the liberal gay rights Democrats have put their candidates in the Pearland election to try and take over City Council and the school board," in April.

This month, a flier credited to a political action committee called We Are Pearland was disseminated. It advocates support for Reid and Owens with the banner headline: "There's only one way to stop the Democrat slate from taking over City Hall." It was largely seen as partisan with candidates on both sides denouncing it.

"If some take it as an implication to go vote, that's one thing, but others can take it a different way and that's why we have to elect leadership that will not segregate and implement harm to different groups that have different beliefs," Kasseb said.

Additionally, a video from the Brazoria County Democratic Party showed anti-Islamic posts from Owens' Facebook page — he denies posting them.

This came after Pearland ISD school board member Rusty Deborde shared an article from The Atlantic titled "How American Muslims Are Trying to Take Back Their Government" on Facebook with the comment, "Please spread the word. This is happening this election cycle right here in Pearland."

Deborde found himself on the wrong side of national headlines when he was ousted by Mike Floyd, an 18-year-old high school senior and self-described liberal, last month.

Floyd insisted transgender students be able to use the restroom of their gender identity, a position at odds with Superintendent John Kelly, who has been outspoken in arguing that students use the restroom that corresponds to their birth certificates.

While it used to be a Republican stronghold, voting trends are beginning to shift, particularly on the city's east side.

Pearland ISD has gone from a predominately white, semi-rural area to an ethnically and economically diverse suburb on the edge of an ever-expanding urban core.

Jay Aiyer, an assistant professor of public policy at Texas Southern University, said the area's changing population has brought a fundamental shift to the left in Brazoria County, and in Pearland specifically.

"Often we think of that profile as an urban phenomenon," Aiyer said. "But now we're seeing places like Fort Bend County - and now in Brazoria County - with an increased diversity that has led to profound political changes."

The Platforms

A native of Central Texas, Reid moved to Pearland in 1965 when he began working at Johnson Space Center. During his three decades there, the city's population exploded from around 1,500 in 1960 to 37,600 in 2000. City officials estimate Pearland had around 120,000 residents at the beginning of this year.

Reid said his focus is on transportation; increasing road capacity through projects like new toll lanes on 288, additional lanes on the Sam Houston Tollway, and the possibility of light rail sometime in the distant future.

His platform also singled out public safety, quality of life and economic growth.

Wiltz previously made two unsuccessful bids for city council in 2013 and 2015, when he lost to Derrick Reed, who became the first African-American elected to Pearland's City Council. Wiltz would have been the city's first black mayor.

The mayor has no voting power, except in a tie.

In what was the most contested race of the election cycle with six total candidates, Owens initially trailed Kasseb following last month's voting.

He previously served for 12 years and retired from the council in 2013 due to term limits before an unsuccessful run for mayor in 2014.

Owens co-founded the Greater 288 Regional Partnership in 2010, which advocates for the development of the Hwy. 288 corridor, and is the organization's former vice chairman. He is also the vice president of Houston-based Aztec Engineering Group Inc.

A military veteran, he urged voters to support his platform focused on debt, taxes and roadway congestion.

Kasseb sold herself as an advocate for Pearland's new and diverse voices. Her platform includes mobility and environmental initiatives like creating more hike-and-bike trails and adding green space in the city, encouraging economic development through what she calls "smart growth," and exploring the environmental impacts of the Blue Ridge Landfill.

In May, Gary Moore, who won his re-election bid for council Position No. 3. This cycle marks Moore's second term on the council. J. David Little will succeed Greg Hill for City Council Position 5. Both candidates were sworn into office May 15.